The Sacraments

The Seven Sacraments.There are seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Sacraments are visible rites seen as signs and valuable channels of the grace of God to all those who receive them with the proper disposition. The seven-fold list of sacraments is often organized into three groups: 1) the sacraments of initiation (into the Church, the body of Christ), consisting of Baptism, Confirmation, 2) and the Eucharist; the sacraments of healing, consisting of Penance and Anointing of the Sick; and 3) the sacraments of service: Holy Orders and Matrimony.

​The Latin word sacramentum means "a sign of the sacred." The seven sacraments are ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant and important for Christians. They are special occasions for experiencing God's saving presence.

St. Francis Church (Click to enlarge).

Baptism.The Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment to the Catholic faith and way of life. Whether we are baptized as infants or adults, the principal effects of Baptism are purification from sins and a new birth in the Holy Spirit. For infants the Church requires formation and catechesis for parents in preparation for the baptism of their children. Only one meeting is required and the church does recommend baptism early in a child’s life. Adolescents and adults are prepared for Baptism through a process called the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation).

​Parents are required to meet with father for instruction for the baptism of their first child. Adults will be prepared for baptism through the parish RCIA program.

St. Francis window detail (click).

EucharistChrist’s presence among us in the Eucharist has been a constant teaching of the Catholic Church that dates to the Last Supper. The Holy Eucharist is one of the sacraments of the rite of initiation in the Church. The Eucharistic celebration, the Holy Mass, is offered at least once daily in one of our two parishes. ​The actual initiation of the Eucharist begins with the First Holy Communion. Second grade students from both parishes are prepared for their First Communion through the Parish School of Religion (PSR) program. Adults are prepared through the ​RCIA program. Homebound parishioners can make arrangements to receive weekly Communion in the home by calling the parish office.

St. Ambrose window (click).

Reconciliation.The rite of reconciliation, often called "Confession "or “Penance” is the sacrament in which Christ forgives our sins and reconciles us to our fellow Christians. Its sign or ceremony is the sinner's showing his sorrow by acknowledging his sins and the priest's words of forgiveness and reconciliation in Christ's name.​Catholics are required to receive this sacrament at least once per year. Anyone knowing they have committed a serious sin must make a good confession before receiving Holy Communion. Reconciliation is offered several times during the week at our two parishes. Click HERE for a schedule.

St. Ambrose window detail (click).

Confirmation.Confirmation is the second sacrament of Christian initiation. It is an essential rite that strengthens, or “confirms” the baptismal grace when a Catholic reaches an age of maturity. It is often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit; and evidence of its importance is conveyed by the fact that confirmation is almost always performed by a bishop of the Catholic Church.​The importance of Confirmation is also substantiated by a rigorous preparation and education process. For youth who were baptized as infants, the training is done through the Parish School of Religion (PSR) program on a regularly scheduled annual basis. Adults might be prepared through coordination with the PSR and RCIA programs.

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Marriage.Marriage, or Matrimony, is a sacrament of service. Marriage is the sacrament by with Christ joins a Christian man and woman in a grace-giving lifelong union. Any Catholic young adult (18 years and older) may be married in the Catholic Church. If a person is divorced and wants to marry or remarry in the Catholic Church they can petition to be free to marry.​Any couple planning to be married must contact the pastor no later than six months prior to the planned ceremony. This allows time for preparations including instructions, and Engaged Encounter weekend and counseling. The annulment of a previous marriage my be sought by contacting the pastor.

Holy Orders.Holy Orders is the sacrament by which a man is made a bishop, a priest or a deacon and thus dedicated to be an image of Christ. The three degrees are referred to as the episcopate, the presbyterate and the diaconate. A bishop administers the sacrament. Aspirants to the priesthood are required by canon law to go through a seminary program that includes that includes graduate level philosophical and theological studies as well as a formation program including spiritual direction, retreats, apostolate experience, etc. The course of studies in preparation for ordination as a permanent deacon is decided by an episcopal conference.​Young men considering a religious vocation should contact the pastor for counseling and suggestions for pursuit of that vocation. Likewise, young women contemplating entry into a convent should also contact the pastor for encouragement and instruction.

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Anointing of the Sick."The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its purpose the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing the difficulties inherent in the condition of grave illness or old age." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1527).

The Anointing of the Sick is appropriately requested by those who are not only ill or in danger of death, but also by those preparing for surgical procedures or coping with the stress of aging or physiological distress.​Please contact the pastor or parish office to schedule a time to receive an Anointing. In the event of sudden accident or illness requiring anointing, contact the pastor directly at 620-757-1047.

​This is the community website for the St. Francis de Hieronymo and St. Ambrose Catholic Churches in Neosho County, Kansas. Both churches are located in the center of the historic nine-county southeast Kansas area. We share one of the richest Catholic Heritages in Southern Kansas and the Four-State Region. For more information about our churches, history, organizations or programs browse our site including its links.